Paint can holder and brush rest



1360- 3, 1966 J. G. STOLPE, SR

PAINT CAN HOLDER AND BRUsH REST Filed Feb, 10, 1965 I 775%n G. 'SZOZ 6,07?

United States Patent ()1 3,291,517 PAINT CAN HOLDER AND BRUSH REST John G. Stolpe, Sr., 264 Oak St, Shrewsbnry, Mass. Filed Feb. 10, 1965, Ser. No. 431,687 2 Claims. (Cl. 294-31) This invention relates to a new and improved manual holder for paint cans, and the principal object of the invention resides in the provision of a one-handed holder which is quickly and easily clipped to a can such as a paint can and having a scissors type of mechanism for securing the same so that the greater the grip on the scissor members, the more firmly the can is held.

In addition the invention relates to one portion of the scissor type device which is provided with rearwardly extending hooks or brackets which extend under the paint can lip and serve to hold the can against an abutment member on the other scissor element, the first member having a relatively broad surface extending chordally across the can when the holder is in position and providing a wiping edge as well as a broad surface upon which to rest the paintbrush as and when desired.

Other obejcts and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating the device in open conditon, and

FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing the same applied to a paint can.

In carrying out the present invention the paint can holder is conveniently and inexpensively manufactured in two parts. Each part has a handle. One member is indicated at and the other at 12 and these may be conveniently pressed out and have depending flanges, etc. for convenience and ease of holding by means of the hand.

The member 10 is uppermost as to the handle portion thereof as shown in FIG. 1 and it extends forwardly from the handle having at an intermediate area thereof a pair of relatively large upraised ears 14-, 16, these being at the edges of the member. Between these relatively large ears there is a relatively large aperture, one edge of which is indicated at 18 and the other edge at 20, see FIG. 2. This aperture extends from side to side of the device and the forward and rear portions of the member 10 are connected together by these cars.

The member 10 extends forwardly and down at an angle as indicated at 22, this downwardly extending member forming a can or container abutment or clamping member and it is prefably curved as indicated at 24 in FIG. 2.

The other member 12 extends forwardly and in the intermediate area thereof at 26 is of a width narrow enough to extend through the aperture which has the edges 18 and 20. In this area it has a pair of smaller upstanding ears indicated at 28, 28 which fit in between the larger ears 14 and 16. A pin, rod or the like 30 having enlarged ends as at 32 serve to pivot the ears and the two members together.

The member 12 extends forwardly from the portion at 26 into a widened substantially semicircular flat portion generally indicated at 34, this forming a plate which overlies less than one-half portion of the paint can when the device is in position on the can as shown in FIG. 2. Preferably this plate has a reduced or inset straight edge area at 36 which extends chordally across the can indicated at 38 when in positon as clearly shown. Under the plate are ice a pair of spaced rearwardly directed brackets or hook members 40, 40 which are spaced from the plate 34 and are rearwardly directed to fit under the drip lip 42 of the paint can and to firmly hold the same in position.

It will be seen from the fore-going that it is a very easy matter to slip this device over the edge of the paint can and then in a one-handed motion the handles can be pressed together. The element 22 clamps the outside surface of the paint can and the hooks at 40 being directed under the drip lip 42 firmly and positively hold the can in position. As long as the handles are gripped, the paint can cannot be tipped over and it will be seen that it is an extremely great advantage to a painter in ascending and descending ladders and also in moving about on scaffolding in general.

Also, whether the paint can is set down or not, the device is always in position where placed without being manually gripped due to hooks 40. The brush can be wiped on the edge 36 and as a matter of fact after wiping can be laid on plate 34 so that it does not fall into the paint can nor drip down the side thereof.

This invention provides an extremely simple but effective holder and paintbrush support and wiper which not only serves to prevent spilling of the paint while the paint can is being carried by the painter but it also prevents any kind of outside dri-p and prevents the paint from getting into the drip lip at 42. Not only therefore are the hands, brush and paint container all kept cleaner, but when the top of the paint can is replaced to close the container, there is little or no paint in the drip lip so that the can cannot become sealed by drying paint as so often is the case.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. A holder for a paint can having an interior drip lip and comprising a pair of inter-pivoted scissor-like fiat members, means for abutting the outside surface of the paint can on one member and hook means on the other member for insertion under the drip lip of the paint can at the interior thereof, a handle on each member, said handles when being pressed toward each other causing the abutting and hook means to approach and grip the can, said other member terminating in a fiat plate extendmg in general across the top portion of the paint can and resting thereon when in position, said plate having a chordally arranged edge thereon upon which the paintbrush may be wiped.

2. The holder of claim 1 including means to pivotally connect the flat members comprising a pair of struck-up ears on each member, the ears nesting in pairs, and a pin extending through the ears.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,320,318 10/1919 Conley 29431 2,201,727 5/ 1940 Henry 2943'1 2,220,416 11/ 1940 Broadbelt 29431 2,788,153 4/1957 Broadbelt 294--31 M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

EVON C. BLUNK, Examiner.

C. H. SPADERNA, J. N. ERL-ICH,

Assistant Examiners. 

1. A HOLDER FOR A PAINT CAN HAVING AN INTERIOR DRIP LIP AND COMPRISING A PAIR OF INTER-PIVOTED SCISSOR-LIKE FLAT MEMBERS, MEANS FOR ABUTTING THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF THE PAINT CAN ON ONE MEMBER AND HOOK MEANS ON THE OTHER MEMBER FOR INSERTION UNDER THE DRIP LIP OF THE PAINT CAN AT THE INTERIOR THEREOF, A HANDLE ON EACH MEMBER, SAID HANDLES WHEN BEING PRESSED TOWARD EACH OTHER CAUSING THE ABUTTING AND HOOK MEANS TO APPROACH AND GRIP THE CAN, SAID OTHER MEMBER TERMINATING IN A FLAT PLATE EXTENDING IN GENERAL ACROSS THE TOP PORTION OF THE PAINT CAN AND RESTING THEREON WHEN IN POSITION, SAID PLATE HAVING A CHORDALLY ARRANGED EDGE THEREON UPON WHICH THE PAINTBRUSH MAY BE WIPED. 